I haven't posted anything deeply reflective for quiet some time. To be honest, that was a result of the lack of responses and comments, which come to find out was my bad. So, long story short, I've been pondering an idea that I'd like to share. Now, I have come to a few conclusions, but I'll wait to share those. Anyway...
I've recently been asking myself where... or better yet, when... should our focus be? Let me explain. There are those that hold that the key to our future growth/success/inspiration lies in the past. This would be the "conservative" point of view. To move ahead, we must look backward. In the church, this often times comes out as "we must return to ______________ Christianity" (fill in the blank with some important period of time, i.e. New Testament, early church, reformation, azusa street, etc.). Essentially, the heart of any present revival/reformation/movement is found in recovering some element of our shared past. Key words are often recovering, reclaiming, re____________ (again, fill in the blank).
Now, running along with this stream of thought (or counter to it, depending on your perspective) is the idea that the key to our future growth/success/inspiration lies in the future. This would be the "liberal" point of view. To move ahead, we must look forward. In the church, this often comes out as a "concession" to culture and a strong desire to not look outdated. Now, I have not had nearly the experience in this stream of thought that I have had in the other, so I've had a difficult time describing it in earlier conversations and even in this blog. Essentially, the heart of any present revival/reformation/movement is found, in some sense, by letting go of the past and grasping the future. Key words are often... well, I don't know because like I said, I haven't had much experience in this stream.
Anyway, so thats it. What I ask is... which one is right? (Now, before Nic gets the opportunity to ask why I need one to be right and one to be wrong, I'm cutting him off. That is not the question. The question is really "which one is right.... for you?) Which one, if either or both, do we see in scripture? Where does your heart/revival lie, in the past or in the future?
